US10529523B2 - Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel - Google Patents

Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US10529523B2
US10529523B2 US16/313,042 US201716313042A US10529523B2 US 10529523 B2 US10529523 B2 US 10529523B2 US 201716313042 A US201716313042 A US 201716313042A US 10529523 B2 US10529523 B2 US 10529523B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
short
circuiting device
sacrificial element
hollow cylinder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US16/313,042
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20190252145A1 (en
Inventor
Arnd Ehrhardt
Michael Fromm
Stefan Dietweger
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Dehn SE and Co KG
Original Assignee
Dehn and Soehne GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Dehn and Soehne GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Dehn and Soehne GmbH and Co KG
Publication of US20190252145A1 publication Critical patent/US20190252145A1/en
Assigned to DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG reassignment DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DIETWEGER, Stefan, FROMM, MICHAEL, EHRHARDT, ARND
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US10529523B2 publication Critical patent/US10529523B2/en
Assigned to DEHN SE + CO KG reassignment DEHN SE + CO KG CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG
Assigned to DEHN SE reassignment DEHN SE ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DEHN SE + CO KG
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H79/00—Protective switches in which excess current causes the closing of contacts, e.g. for short-circuiting the apparatus to be protected
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00—Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/74—Switches in which only the opening movement or only the closing movement of a contact is effected by heating or cooling
    • H01H37/76—Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material
    • H01H37/764—Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material in which contacts are held closed by a thermal pellet
    • H01H37/765—Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material in which contacts are held closed by a thermal pellet using a sliding contact between a metallic cylindrical housing and a central electrode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
    • H01H39/004—Closing switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/12—Automatic release mechanisms with or without manual release
    • H01H71/40—Combined electrothermal and electromagnetic mechanisms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
    • H01H2039/008—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current using the switch for a battery cutoff
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2201/00—Contacts
    • H01H2201/002—Contacts bounceless

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel, comprising a switching element which can be operated by the tripping signal of a fault detection device, two mutually opposite contact electrodes having power supply means, wherein contact can be made with said contact electrodes at an electrical circuit having connections at different potentials, furthermore, in at least one of the contact electrodes, a moving contact part which is under mechanical prestress and executes a movement to the further contact electrode in a manner assisted by spring force in the event of a short-circuit, a sacrificial element as spacer between the contact electrodes and also having an electrical connection between the sacrificial element and the switching element on the one hand and one of the contact electrodes on the other hand, in order to cause current flow-induced thermal deformation or destruction of the sacrificial element in a targeted manner, according to the preamble of claim 1 .
  • the sacrificial element is a thin-walled hollow cylinder having a ratio between the diameter and wall thickness of the hollow cylinder of greater than 10:1, wherein the sacrificial element is made of a high melting point metallic material.
  • the related short-circuiter is supposed to have a minimum commuting time at a simultaneously high mechanical strength for deploying high spring force with the goal of reducing the movement time and for the purpose of quickly responding.
  • an insulating body and an auxiliary electrode are present in the fixed contact electrode, wherein the auxiliary electrode is in communication with the sacrificial element.
  • the mutually opposite sides of the contact electrodes or the opposite surfaces may have a complementary conical shape with a resulting centering effect when contact is made in the event of a short-circuit.
  • an exhaust duct or a vent bore may be effective in the closed state in order to prevent forces resulting from a pressure increase in the event of a short-circuit, in particular when an electric arc occurs, from developing which counteract the movement of the contact electrodes towards each other in a closing time delaying manner.
  • the device for generating the prestress force may be realized according to the prior art as a pressure spring, cup spring or similar spring arrangement.
  • the sacrificial element may be a wire or a rod of a conductive material having a low melting integral, wherein the sacrificial element, upon tensioning, is under mechanical prestress.
  • the task for short-circuiters for protection of systems is to realize a metallic short-circuit very quickly so that very high currents can be conducted in a short time.
  • metallic contacts close quickly, it is difficult to avoid contact bouncing.
  • electric arcs might develop between the contacts which seriously damage the upper surface of the contacts, whereby a safe conducting of the current over an extended period is jeopardized.
  • an increased expenditure in constructional and manufacturing terms is necessary. This increased expenditure concerns the system for moving a corresponding contact part, on the one hand, but also the contacts themselves.
  • the inventive teaching refers to the basic idea of realizing a bounce-reduced contact system which concerns a plastic deformation of a part of the mutually opposite contacts.
  • a current division and thus a higher current carrying capacity by realizing a several, in particular two separate contact systems in the short-circuiter.
  • the movable contact part is provided with a relatively long, flat angled, conical contact area and quasi as a hollow cylindrical contact preferably equipped with a spring drive. In the open state, the movement of the movable contact part is blocked.
  • the prestress force in particular the spring force is released and assisted by at least one further force component which accelerates the closing movement.
  • the movable contact part is situated in a fixed contact electrode having the same potential and, in the tripped state, has a very long, preferably coaxial sliding contact without additional spring contacts or the like.
  • the sliding contact features a gap dimension of ⁇ 1/10 mm.
  • the kinetic energy of the movable contact part is transformed into a plastic deformation, whereby contact-bouncing and a detrimental electric arc phase can be avoided.
  • a first contact system initiates a first metallic short-circuit in a very short time. Prior to the metallic short-circuit, however, the first contact system trips an irreversible movement of a second contact system.
  • the first contact system conducts the current at 100% until the second contact system closes.
  • the closing of the second contact system is performed in an electric arc-free manner, since an electric arc will not develop during closing, and an electric arc is also excluded due to the parallel metallic short-circuit when bouncing takes place during closing.
  • the contacts of the second contact system remain undamaged and the current carrying capacity is not impaired.
  • the first contact system may be optimized due to the reduced requirements in terms of current carrying capacity or with respect to the speed of the tripping function or contact closing.
  • the second, additional contact system is provided with a longer stroke path and a higher driving force and a larger contact surface and thus a higher current carrying capacity.
  • the first contact system preferably is provided with a sacrificial element known per se which keeps the contacts at a distance, i.e. spaced apart, by pressure or tension application.
  • the movable contact of the second contact system is held preferably on the moved contact by means of a ball guide, for example.
  • the holding function is adjustable via an inclined plane so that the spring system of the second movable contact exerts only a slight additional force effect of, for example, ⁇ 10% upon the sacrificial element.
  • the movable contact part is formed as a hollow cylinder closed on one side.
  • a spring is situated for generating prestress. This spring may be inserted into the hollow cylinder space in a very simple way so that an additional constructional space for the spring is not necessary.
  • the hollow cylinder is guided in a complementary cutout in the first contact electrode while forming a sliding contact.
  • the hollow cylinder is thus movable in this cutout in the manner of a plunger.
  • the cylinder wall of said hollow cylinder is configured to turn into an external cone on its outer circumferential side.
  • a first pin-like extension to which a second pin-like projection is opposite which is insulated from the contact electrodes extends in the interior of the hollow cylinder.
  • the sacrificial element preferably is realized as a bolt or screw having corresponding threads.
  • the corresponding ends of the bolt or screw are fixed to the first and second pin-like projection via the threads or the screw head.
  • a cutout which is matched to the external cone of the movable contact part and has an internal cone is provided in the second contact electrode.
  • the external cone and internal cone form a bounce-free short-circuit contact region with a force-fitting and interlocking connection on account of the plastic deformation which occurs.
  • exhaust openings are provided in the area of the cutout having the internal cone. These exhaust openings are situated in the second contact electrode in order to prevent pressure from building up due to a movement of the movable contact part.
  • exhaust openings may be closed by a plug displacing under exposure to pressure.
  • a valve-like closure may be provided so that the ingress of humidity, dirt or other foreign bodies can be avoided, but the mentioned undesired pressure build-up be excluded, on the other hand.
  • the respective cone angle for forming the bounce-free, plastically deformable contact is in the range of ⁇ 3°.
  • the contact electrodes and thus the basic construction of the short-circuiting device preferably is configured to be rotationally symmetrical.
  • the contact electrodes are in this case kept spaced via an insulating centering ring.
  • the entire arrangement is surrounded by an enclosing sheath.
  • the movable contact part can move in the cutout of the first contact electrode in the manner of a plunger, wherein the energy released upon destruction of the sacrificial element and/or the energy of a forming electric arc act(s) upon the base of the movable contact in a movement accelerating manner and leads to the closing time being shortened.
  • the second pin-like projection is surrounded by an insulating tube of a gas-emitting material.
  • the insulating tube may be provided with a protecting metallic sheath surrounding the insulating tube at least in part.
  • a current bottleneck is formed in the current path to the sacrificial element.
  • two movable contact parts are provided in a coaxial, concentric arrangement for increasing the current carrying capacity, wherein in this case the sacrificial element may also be alternatively prestressed and loaded by tensile strain instead of compressive stress.
  • FIG. 1 a representation of a longitudinal cut through a short-circuiting device according to a first embodiment in an open state
  • FIG. 2 a representation of a longitudinal cut of the short-circuiting device according to the first embodiment in a closed state
  • FIG. 3 a representation of a longitudinal cut of the short-circuiting device having a current bottleneck in the current path to the sacrificial element in a first variant
  • FIG. 4 a representation of the short-circuiting device in a longitudinal cut having a current bottleneck in the current path to the sacrificial element in a second embodiment
  • FIG. 5 a first variant of the configuration of the short-circuiting device having two movable contacts in a coaxial, concentric arrangement, wherein the sacrificial element is under compressive load
  • FIG. 6 a representation similar to that according to FIG. 5 but with a tensile load of the sacrificial element there.
  • a substantially cylindrical, rotationally symmetrical short-circuiting device 1 is taken as a basis.
  • connection facilities 2 ; 3 for making contact to busbars or similar parts.
  • the short-circuiting device features at least one further connection 4 which is inserted in an insulated manner and via which the activation of the short-circuiting device 1 may be performed.
  • the short-circuiting device 1 has a sacrificial element which is realized as a screw or bolt 5 in the illustrated example.
  • the sacrificial element i.e. the screw or bolt 5 , mechanically fixes a movable contact part 6 which is mechanically prestressed via a spring 7 .
  • the sacrificial element 5 is in electrical connection with the external connection 4 and, via the movable contact part 6 , is in electrical connection with the contact electrode 8 and the external connection 3 .
  • the second contact electrode 9 is in connection with the connection 2 and electrically separated from the first contact electrode 8 via an insulated centering part 10 .
  • the insulated centering part 10 guides the contact electrodes 8 ; 9 , the joint of the prementioned parts preferably being realized by a press-fit, in particular a tapered interference fit.
  • the movable contact part 6 is centered relative to the contact electrode 9 via the guide in the contact electrode 8 .
  • the arrangement of the parts 8 ; 9 and 10 is connected and fixed by an insulating force-fitting connection after the joining, for example, by a screw connection or by an interlocking connection, e.g. by potting, which is not illustrated in the FIGURES.
  • the tripping of the short-circuiting device 1 is made by a current flow via the sacrificial element 5 after a switching element 11 establishes a connection to connection 2 .
  • the sacrificial element 5 Due to the then resulting current flow via the sacrificial element 5 , the sacrificial element 5 is heated and the mechanical fixing of the movable contact part 6 canceled.
  • the sacrificial element 5 is not required to melt completely. Rather, it is important for the material of the sacrificial element 5 to become softened. This softening may also occur below the melting temperature.
  • FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cut through an inventive short-circuiting device having the components and assemblies already explained on the basis of FIG. 1 .
  • a cutout matched to the external cone 61 of the movable contact part 6 is provided in the internal cone 91 (see FIG. 1 ), wherein the external cone and internal cone form a bounce-free short-circuit contact region with a force-fitting and interlocking connection on account of the plastic deformation which occurs. This state is shown in FIG. 2 .
  • a current path is formed having a negligible force effect against the direction of movement of the movable part 6 and thus against the residual spring force. This allows the residual spring force to be reduced as compared to planar contacts, for example.
  • the arrangement of the spring 7 in the cavity of the substantially cylindrical movable contact part 6 does not result in an additional space requirement for the spring space needed.
  • the short-circuiting device can thus be of a compact design.
  • the wall thickness of the movable contact part 6 may be adapted to the mechanical requirements, for instance, the force effect of currents after closing.
  • the wall thickness of the hollow cylinder and the base of the movable contact part 6 may be in the range of 1 mm to 3 mm, for example, depending on the material and current load.
  • the described embodiment also allows a very large sliding contact area of the movable contact part 6 to be achieved with respect to the contact electrode 8 at a low mass of the movable contact part 6 . This enables a sufficient contact surface for high current loads at minimum weight and thus a high speed in the movement of the contact part 6 and comparatively low spring forces.
  • exhaust openings 12 or 92 may be provided in the area of the contact electrode 9 , which prevent pressure from being built up as a result of the compression of the gas during a rapid movement of the contact part 6 .
  • exhaust openings 12 ; 92 may be closed by a membrane, a valve or easily opening closing elements such as a plug. Pressure compensation, however, may also be performed within a substantially closed short-circuiter with suitable ducts in the contact electrode 8 and/or in the movable contact part 6 .
  • the contact area between the movable contact part 6 and the contact electrode 8 is several times, i.e. at least three times larger than that between the contact electrode 9 and the movable contact part 6 , since a plastic deformation preferably will not take place in this area.
  • the electrical contact is realized via a sliding contact of a substantially coaxial configuration having a gap dimension of preferably ⁇ 0.1 mm, at maximum 0.2 mm.
  • the related surfaces may feature a suitable coating.
  • the sliding contact is capable of carrying high currents in a short time without the formation of an electric arc without additional contact lamellas and without plastic deformation and allows to be adapted to high continuous currents.
  • the main current path is thus realized by a force-fitting press connection with plastic deformation of the conical short-circuit contact region between the contact part 6 and the contact electrode 9 , as well as the sliding contact between the contact part 6 and the contact electrode 8 at only a low force.
  • damping elements or specifically mounted and guided contact elements for absorbing the kinetic energy and avoiding the bouncing behavior of the movable contact part are not necessary.
  • Avoiding permanent lamella contacts allows not only the costs to be reduced. Also, the forces required for rapid movements are reduced, and the convertible energy for plastic deformation is increased.
  • a spring force of about 800 N and a comparatively short path of displacement of the contact part 6 results in a kinetic energy of several Joules, which is converted to a great extent into plastic deformations in the contact area.
  • the energy available for the plastic deformation and exclusively effected by the spring force amounts to at least 10 Joules.
  • the path of displacement may be limited by appropriate means, since for a sufficient current carrying capacity, only a slight penetration depth of the contact part 6 with regard to the contact electrode 8 is enough according to the illustrated representation.
  • the length of the sliding contact and the gap dimension between the movable contact part 6 and the contact electrode 8 are configured such that further requirements relevant to the functional safety can be influenced positively.
  • the above-mentioned matching should possibly be supplemented by further measures such as, for example, sealing off the pressure space around the sacrificial element at least temporally until the metallic contact is reached, by correspondingly redirecting gas between the zone of development and the gap area and/or by an air exhaust in the contact electrode 9 , which is possibly released temporally only after the contact part 6 starts to move and discharges the main gas quantity without passing the gap area.
  • the proposed embodiment of sliding contact and gap dimension is utilized to profit, in the fault event of an electric arc developing in the sliding area of the contact part 6 , from the development of molten metal for creating a metallically highly conductive connection.
  • Such a fault event may be caused, for example, by high dynamic forces which act upon the contact part 6 due to an unfavorable installation.
  • the molten metal occurring in this case by the electric arc occurring temporally in the contact area is urged into and held in the narrow gap between the contact part 6 and the contact electrode 9 .
  • a further mechanical acceleration of the contact part 6 may be achieved through supporting measures.
  • the heat generation but also the electric arc development upon overloading of this part may be utilized to provide an additional force with regard to the force of spring 7 .
  • the space around the sacrificial element 5 is delimited, for example, by tubular parts 13 and 14 at least prior to the movement of part 6 .
  • an electric arc develops, high pressure is abruptly built up within this delimited space due to the temperature, which pressure acts, via the surfaces 15 and 16 , upon the movement of the contact part 6 as an assisting force.
  • the closing time of the short-circuiter may hereby be shortened.
  • the thermal energy of the sacrificial element 5 when it is under flow-induced load, and/or that of the electric arc can be utilized to generate additional gases, for example, via the hard gas effect known per se, or else via the triggering of gas generators which increase the pressure and thus the force acting upon the movable switching part 6 .
  • the second pin-like projection 100 may be surrounded by an insulating tube 13 of a gas-emitting material.
  • the tube of gas-emitting material e.g. POM
  • POM may be reinforced mechanically by a further tube or a sheath 14 .
  • the switching element 11 may be configured as a fast-acting mechanical switch, as a spark gap but also as a semiconductor switch.
  • the switching element 11 after having been actuated, must be capable of conducting the current until the closing of the main path via the contacts of the components 6 , 9 and 8 .
  • Fuses of such a type are already suitable which only lead to an impedance increase.
  • the level of the cut-off voltage has to be taken into account in selecting NS fuses, for example.
  • the switching voltage inter alia burdens the spark gap between the assemblies 6 , 8 and 9 also during the closing process.
  • the switching voltage of the fuse 17 may be limited appropriately by an overvoltage protection element as required.
  • a parallel connection of a varistor is suitable, for example.
  • the interruption of the current may also result in a currentless break. If such a currentless break is undesired, there is the option of realizing an auxiliary short-circuit.
  • the auxiliary short-circuit may be implemented in the simplest form, for example in the case of semiconductor switches, as a substantially pressure-resistant enclosure 18 having a spark gap function. When the semiconductor as the switching element 11 is overloaded, the spark gap will be ignited passively or actively and carries the current until the contacts close.
  • An auxiliary short-circuiter may also be activated immediately during or after triggering the movement of the movable contact part 6 and discharge the control path including the switching element 11 .
  • Such a facility may be associated immediately with the function of an additional fuse element having a limited switching capacity, but also directly with a fuse-like function of the sacrificial element 5 .
  • FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment.
  • a further bottleneck 19 which has about the same melting integral value as the sacrificial element 5 , is integrated in the area of the control path.
  • the melting in the area of the bottleneck 19 leads to an electric arc which bridges the insulation gap or destroys an insulation. This enables a current flow from the permanent connection 3 to the permanent connection 2 already before the metallic short-circuit of the corresponding contact electrodes using the movable contact part 6 .
  • the current flow is enabled via a feed through having an isolator 20 and a conductor 21 of sufficient cross-section.
  • the control path including the switch 11 may thus be implemented in a space-saving and low-cost manner.
  • the explained arrangement also allows a parallel connection of two short-circuiters for increasing the current carrying capacity with only one switching element 11 .
  • both of the short-circuiters having an opposite orientation and electric series connection of the control paths including the sacrificial element may be simultaneously operated by means of only one switching element 11 .
  • FIG. 4 shows a similar arrangement as already explained on the basis of FIG. 3 . According to FIG. 4 , however, the melting integral value of the bottleneck realized e.g. as a wire 22 situated in the activation circuit of the switching element 11 , is very low.
  • the electric arc bridges the spark gap in the area 23 and allows a flow of current via the auxiliary conductor 21 .
  • the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 allows a low-cost, since low-power configuration of the activation branch including the switching element 11 .
  • this circuit After the ignition of the electric arc in the area 23 , this circuit will be immediately relieved and may be additionally protected, if appropriate, by a small fuse 17 .
  • the activation of the main short-circuiter is in this case performed in two stages, a flow of current through the short-circuiter, however, being guaranteed at all times in an interruption-free manner.
  • a supplemental option of increasing the current carrying capacity is the division and separation of functions of the short-circuiting device by an arrangement having at least two contact areas.
  • FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment.
  • the movable contact 31 of the first stage is kept at a distance from the fixed contact 30 by a sacrificial element 32 which is under compressive load by springs 33 .
  • the sacrificial element 32 is insulated against the contact 30 and has a completed terminal contact 40 for driving.
  • the first movable contact 31 is guided in a stationary contact 34 and connected to it via a cylindrical sliding surface.
  • the contact 34 has a plurality of openings 35 distributed over its circumference, in which balls 36 or rollers having a slightly larger diameter than the wall thickness of the stationary contact 34 are guided.
  • the second movable contact 37 is guided likewise via a sliding contact at the outer side of the stationary contact 34 .
  • the contact 37 is of a hollow cylindrical shape and provided with an edge supported on the balls or rollers 36 .
  • the contact 37 is pre-stressed via springs 38 .
  • the edge may turn immediately into the conical area of the second movable contact 37 , resulting in a relatively steep cone for the contact area due to the desired force distribution.
  • the contact area thus has large, substantial lateral, i.e. radial contact surfaces.
  • the contact part 31 circumferentially has a groove 39 which is arranged above the balls 36 in the tensioned state.
  • the first movable contact 31 as well may have a conical shape at its outer circumferential side.
  • An advantage of the explained arrangement is the substantially simple coaxial design, the same direction of movement of the movable contacts, and the common mounting of the movable contacts 31 , 37 on a common sliding contact 34 . This causes a rapid current commutation and low current forces also when the second contact is closing.
  • the balls 36 act also as a blocking device against a lift-off of the first stage. This blocking function may be assisted by a partially elastic mounting of areas of the contact 30 .
  • the sacrificial element 32 keeps the movable contact piece 31 at a distance from the fixed electrode or the fixed contact 30 against the spring tension 33 .
  • the sacrificial element 32 is characterized by a relatively small I 2 t value ( ⁇ 40 kA 2 s), high tensile strength and high yield strength, i.e. low elongation.
  • Such air exhausts may also be present in the area of the second contact surfaces.
  • the second movable contact piece 37 is in turn fixed via balls 36 to the movable electrode or the movable contact 31 via an edge of the cone.
  • the balls Upon a movement of the contact 31 , the balls can be displaced into the groove 39 of the part 31 , whereby the springs 38 displace the movable part 37 toward the opposite contact 48 .
  • the force acting upon the moved part 31 can be increased with respect to the mere spring force 33 .
  • the effect of pressure of the electric arc developing through the melting of the sacrificial element 32 may be enhanced by hard gas, e.g. the part 49 . If only a slow air exhaust from this area is realized, the force effect can also be maintained after closing of the contacts, whereby the contact force is increased over this time range.
  • a further auxiliary electrode may be inserted in addition which guides the potential of contact 30 .
  • the switch 45 is discharged from a current flow already before the closing of the contacts 30 and 31 .
  • This discharge of the switch 45 may also be realized by a current interruption by means of the switch 45 or a fuse 51 after the I 2 t value of the sacrificial element 32 has been reached.
  • the approach without any auxiliary contact 50 is in particular sufficient when a short currentless break is acceptable in the application due to a short closing time of the contacts.
  • the short-circuiters according to the examples presented above may be combined, as required, with mechanical, electrical, optical but also other displays or telecommunications means which are geared or tuned to driving, current loading of the activation path, overloading the sacrificial element, starting the movement of the moved contact or reaching a determined position of the moved contact.
  • Such a sensor technology may at the same time detect and display effects of aging.
  • the minimum cross-section of the movable contact part 6 is in the case of copper or aluminum about 150 mm 2 , preferably 240 mm 2 .
  • the penetration depth of the contact part 6 into the cone of part 2 is at least 3 mm, and preferably is designed to be >6 mm.
  • the weight of the contact part in one embodiment may be a maximum of 150 g, preferably may amount to 100 g.
  • the initial spring force of spring 7 is >800 N, and preferably is about 1100 N.
  • the air gap between the contact electrodes 8 ; 9 is at least 3 mm, preferably >5 mm.
  • metals or graphite based materials are preferably applicable.
  • the material of the sacrificial element 5 or 32 has high mechanical tensile strength at a low specific melting integral.
  • the sacrificial element is configured as a screw of stainless steel or a bolt of stainless steel.
  • materials are advantageous, in which, upon a current flow due to heating, strong softening occurs already before reaching the melting temperature.
  • the cone in the area of the short-circuit contact has an angle of ⁇ 10°, preferred of ⁇ 3°, whereby the deformation in the closing area and the reduction of the kinetic energy prevents the disadvantageous bouncing tendency sufficiently even in spring drives having high elasticity and low spring forces.
  • the impedance of the driving path of the short-circuiting device including the switching element 11 is in the range of ⁇ 10 mOhm, in particular ⁇ 5 mOhm.
  • the peak current carrying capacity of the individual short-circuiters is clearly above 200 kA, and the short-term current carrying capacity is >100 kA eff .
  • the continuous current carrying capacity is above 1000 A.
  • the closing time of the main path clearly falls below 2 ms exclusively due to the spring force at an isolating gap section of 6 mm. Due to the assistance of additional forces according to the teaching of the invention, the real closing times decrease to about 1 ms.
  • a first one of the contacts may be optimized for speed and a relatively low current carrying capacity and low bouncing tendency.
  • the second stage i.e. the second pair of contacts, closes in an arc-free manner and may be adjusted to a high current carrying capacity, with the closing time itself being subordinate. Designing the contacts and stroke paths is possible independent of one another.
  • At least one of the two-stage embodiments is lockable, wherein the locking may be assisted by an elastic mounting of a partial contact.
  • the elastic mounting may be realized by way of example using a spring or a resilient element 53 in the cone area 48 .
  • a solution is taken as a basis, which comprises the idea of the deformation of the first stage as an internal stage with an inverted sacrificial element combined with the two-stage approach in terms of an external stage.
  • the specific form of the sacrificial element together with the additional auxiliary contact 50 and its isolated inlet 52 / 54 , and the radially circumferential spring together with the hard gas-emitting element 49 represent optional means.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Circuit Breakers (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)
  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
US16/313,042 2016-06-30 2017-06-07 Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel Active US10529523B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102016008066 2016-06-30
DE102016008066 2016-06-30
DE102016008066.3 2016-06-30
DE102016115222.6A DE102016115222B4 (de) 2016-06-30 2016-08-17 Kurzschließeinrichtung für den Einsatz in Nieder- und Mittelspannungsanlagen zum Sach- und Personenschutz
DE102016115222.6 2016-08-17
DE102016115222 2016-08-17
PCT/EP2017/063765 WO2018001686A1 (de) 2016-06-30 2017-06-07 Kurzschliesseinrichtung für den einsatz in nieder- und mittelspannungsanlagen zum sach- und personenschutz

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20190252145A1 US20190252145A1 (en) 2019-08-15
US10529523B2 true US10529523B2 (en) 2020-01-07

Family

ID=60662467

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US16/313,042 Active US10529523B2 (en) 2016-06-30 2017-06-07 Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US10529523B2 (zh)
EP (1) EP3479391B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN109690723B (zh)
AU (1) AU2017290406B2 (zh)
DE (1) DE102016115222B4 (zh)
DK (1) DK3479391T3 (zh)
PL (1) PL3479391T3 (zh)
WO (1) WO2018001686A1 (zh)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11742157B2 (en) * 2020-06-15 2023-08-29 Hitachi Energy Switzerland Ag Contact bounce reduction system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018100076B3 (de) 2018-01-03 2019-06-13 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Kurzschließeinrichtung für den Einsatz in Nieder- und Mittelspannungsanlagen zum Sach- und Personenschutz
DE102018111955B4 (de) 2018-01-31 2019-10-10 Dehn Se + Co Kg Einrichtung zum Erzeugen eines sicheren, niederohmigen elektrischen Kurzschlusses

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4241248A (en) * 1978-10-16 1980-12-23 S & C Electric Company Circuit interrupting device
US4527025A (en) * 1983-02-02 1985-07-02 Networks Electronic Corp. Miniature delay switch
WO1996019816A1 (en) 1994-12-22 1996-06-27 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Electric switching device
DE19746566A1 (de) 1997-10-22 1999-04-29 Kloeckner Moeller Gmbh Kurzschließer, insbesondere für eine Störlichtbogen-Schutzvorrichtung zur Verwendung in Anlagen zur Verteilung elektrischer Energie
WO2007014816A1 (de) 2005-08-04 2007-02-08 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg KURZSCHLIEßEINRICHTUNG FÜR DEN EINSATZ IN NIEDER- UND MITTELSPANNUNGSANLAGEN ZUM SACH- UND PERSONENSCHUTZ
US20090141416A1 (en) * 2006-02-23 2009-06-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for Short-Circuiting Power Semiconductor Modules
US20100051437A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2010-03-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Disconnection Arrangement and Method for Operation of a Disconnection Arrangement
FR2953324A1 (fr) 2009-11-27 2011-06-03 Snpe Materiaux Energetiques Interrupteur electrique a tiroir coulissant formant coupe-circuit ou commutateur
DE202012001729U1 (de) 2012-02-20 2012-04-04 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Anordnung zum Anlagen- und Personenschutz im Niederspannungsbereich
US20150248979A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2015-09-03 Autoliv Development Ab Electrical pyrotechnic switch
DE102014016274A1 (de) 2014-09-19 2016-03-24 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Kurzschließereinrichtung, insbesondere für den Störlichtbogenschutz in Nieder- und Mittelspannungsanlagen

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2034503B1 (en) * 2007-09-05 2014-11-05 ABB Technology AG Low-voltage, medium-voltage or high-voltage switchgear assembly having a short-circuiting system
EP2724369B1 (en) * 2011-06-21 2018-06-13 ABB Schweiz AG Power semiconductor housing with contact mechanism
CN202259013U (zh) * 2011-08-22 2012-05-30 游聪谋 温度感应断电的电路保护结构

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4241248A (en) * 1978-10-16 1980-12-23 S & C Electric Company Circuit interrupting device
US4527025A (en) * 1983-02-02 1985-07-02 Networks Electronic Corp. Miniature delay switch
WO1996019816A1 (en) 1994-12-22 1996-06-27 Asea Brown Boveri Ab Electric switching device
DE19746566A1 (de) 1997-10-22 1999-04-29 Kloeckner Moeller Gmbh Kurzschließer, insbesondere für eine Störlichtbogen-Schutzvorrichtung zur Verwendung in Anlagen zur Verteilung elektrischer Energie
WO2007014816A1 (de) 2005-08-04 2007-02-08 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg KURZSCHLIEßEINRICHTUNG FÜR DEN EINSATZ IN NIEDER- UND MITTELSPANNUNGSANLAGEN ZUM SACH- UND PERSONENSCHUTZ
DE102005048003B4 (de) 2005-08-04 2008-04-30 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Kurzschließeinrichtung für den Einsatz in Nieder- und Mittelspannungsanlagen zum Sach- und Personenschutz
US20090141416A1 (en) * 2006-02-23 2009-06-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for Short-Circuiting Power Semiconductor Modules
US20100051437A1 (en) * 2006-10-25 2010-03-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Disconnection Arrangement and Method for Operation of a Disconnection Arrangement
FR2953324A1 (fr) 2009-11-27 2011-06-03 Snpe Materiaux Energetiques Interrupteur electrique a tiroir coulissant formant coupe-circuit ou commutateur
US9058940B2 (en) 2009-11-27 2015-06-16 Herakles Cutout switch or changeover switch having breakable permanent electrical junction
DE202012001729U1 (de) 2012-02-20 2012-04-04 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Anordnung zum Anlagen- und Personenschutz im Niederspannungsbereich
US20150248979A1 (en) * 2012-09-28 2015-09-03 Autoliv Development Ab Electrical pyrotechnic switch
DE102014016274A1 (de) 2014-09-19 2016-03-24 Dehn + Söhne Gmbh + Co. Kg Kurzschließereinrichtung, insbesondere für den Störlichtbogenschutz in Nieder- und Mittelspannungsanlagen

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
The English translation of the International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter I of the Patent Cooperation Treaty), dated Jan. 1, 2019, which was issued by the International Bureau of WIPO in Applicant's corresponding international PCT application having Serial No. PCT/EP2017/063765, filed on Jun. 7, 2017.
The International Search Report, in English, dated Oct. 11, 2017, which was issued by the International Bureau of WIPO in Applicant's corresponding international PCT application having Serial No. PCT/EP2017/063765, filed on Jun. 7, 2017.
The Notification Concerning Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability (Chapter I of the Patent Cooperation Treaty), in English, dated Jan. 10, 2019, which was issued by the International Bureau of WIPO in Applicant's corresponding international PCT application having Serial No. PCT/EP2017/063765, filed on Jun. 7, 2017.
The Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, in English, dated Oct. 11, 2017, which was issued by the International Bureau of WIPO in Applicant's corresponding international PCT application having Serial No. PCT/EP2017/063765, filed on Jun. 7, 2017.

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11742157B2 (en) * 2020-06-15 2023-08-29 Hitachi Energy Switzerland Ag Contact bounce reduction system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3479391B1 (de) 2020-04-22
DE102016115222B4 (de) 2020-02-13
CN109690723B (zh) 2020-08-18
WO2018001686A1 (de) 2018-01-04
US20190252145A1 (en) 2019-08-15
CN109690723A (zh) 2019-04-26
AU2017290406B2 (en) 2019-12-05
AU2017290406A1 (en) 2019-01-24
DK3479391T3 (da) 2020-07-20
EP3479391A1 (de) 2019-05-08
DE102016115222A1 (de) 2018-01-04
PL3479391T3 (pl) 2020-11-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN110073460B (zh) 用于高电压大电流的中断的电断路器
US10276314B2 (en) Switching and protection device for high-voltage wiring system
US8692149B2 (en) Low-voltage, medium-voltage or high-voltage switchgear assembly having a short-circuiting system
US11075040B2 (en) Electrical interrupter switching element having passive interruption tripping, in particular for interrupting high currents at high voltages
US8199452B2 (en) Disconnection arrangement and method for operation of a disconnection arrangement
US10529523B2 (en) Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for protecting parts and personnel
AU2018399890B2 (en) Short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for the protection of property and persons
US5981893A (en) Electrical switching device
KR940002644B1 (ko) 교류 전력 회로용 퓨즈
US11120957B2 (en) Electrical interruption switching element with a tubular separating element with varying wall thickness
US3586804A (en) Disconnect switch
US20220328268A1 (en) Switch with actuator
KR101455324B1 (ko) 가스 차단기
US7679021B2 (en) Switching device
CN113412527A (zh) 合闸开关和开关设备
US20200273648A1 (en) Electrical interruption switching element with a tubular or rod-shaped compression area with a varying cross-sectional diameter
US6853524B2 (en) Vacuum arc interrupter having a tapered conducting bullet assembly

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: ENTITY STATUS SET TO UNDISCOUNTED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: BIG.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION

AS Assignment

Owner name: DEHN + SOEHNE GMBH + CO. KG, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:EHRHARDT, ARND;FROMM, MICHAEL;DIETWEGER, STEFAN;SIGNING DATES FROM 20190618 TO 20190827;REEL/FRAME:050315/0887

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE MAILED -- APPLICATION RECEIVED IN OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS

STPP Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general

Free format text: PUBLICATIONS -- ISSUE FEE PAYMENT VERIFIED

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

AS Assignment

Owner name: DEHN SE + CO KG, GERMANY

Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:DEHN + SOEHNE GMBH + CO. KG;REEL/FRAME:051651/0078

Effective date: 20190705

AS Assignment

Owner name: DEHN SE, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:DEHN SE + CO KG;REEL/FRAME:060546/0572

Effective date: 20220715

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 4